Although the unemployment rate shrank to 3.5 percent in December 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the underemployment rate remains significantly high.
Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed that the unemployment rate for young college graduates is higher than that of the general population. About 41 percent of recent college graduates and 33.8 percent of college graduates work in jobs that don’t require a college degree, experience, or utilize the skills they possess. Some of these graduates are holding part-time jobs despite wanting a full-time position.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a groundbreaking legislation that aims to strengthen and improve the public workforce system in the US. It assists Americans, particularly youths and those who face significant barriers to finding employment in high-quality jobs, and also guides employers to retain skilled workers.
QuickStart is helping to close the skills gap in the IT industry by training individuals at a lower cost through WIOA-approved IT training programs. Through funding from the US Department of Labor, qualified participants can enroll in affordable courses and receive the training they need to launch their tech careers.
QuickStart’s Workforce Government Programs: Are You Eligible?
So, what exactly are Workforce Government Programs? We spoke with QuickStart Academy’s National Workforce Development Director Marcy Miller and Regional Workforce Development Manager Hayden Jason Jones to find out!
It’s crucial to note that QuickStart’s workforce government programs prioritize applicants who are displaced, unemployed, or live below the poverty line. Miller, who works with workforce investment boards across the country, says the overall goal of workforce development and QuickStart’s training is “to offer training to those who are underserved or unemployed in the country so they can re-skill or skill up and get placed into employment.”
“If they fall below a certain income threshold or live within a particular state or county, they would more than likely be eligible,” adds Jones. However, to determine eligibility, the applicant would need to speak to a QuickStart admissions advisor.
Jones works with Job Centers across various states to guide prospective students in determining whether any of QuickStart’s workforce government programs are a good fit and if they meet the requirements.
QuickStart offers WIOA-approved IT training programs to help young people get the training they need to access highly skilled in-demand tech jobs.
Learn more here.The role of the QuickStart admissions team, says Miller, also includes determining if a prospective student has the drive and the interest to dive into a new industry such as IT or healthcare. “That’s what our admissions component is all about — making sure that we’re getting the students but also having those conversations about their skills, what they’re looking to do, and then, ultimately, what kind of job they’re looking to hold.”
Once an applicant is accepted into the program, they would have to bring their best foot forward. “The ultimate goal of the [learners] is to get into in-demand jobs with potential for longevity,” says Jones. “But it takes a bit of [effort] to get there in the sense that they have to be disciplined and [good with] time management. For them to succeed in the bootcamp, they have to manage their time effectively.”
Let’s walk you through how the programs work.
QuickStart’s Workforce Government Programs: How It Works
1. Choose the Right WIOA-Approved Program
A representative from QuickStart’s Admissions team interviews every incoming student to identify their career goals and help them choose the right tech training and/or certification for their career advancement.
“We have that interview at the beginning to determine their eligibility, if they meet the requirements, and cover some of the things they need to know about the program and what they should do to be successful in the program,” Jones shares.
2. Get Funding
After interviewing the potential student, the QuickStart Admissions Team decides if you are a good fit for the program. If the decision is favorable, you can contact the closest workforce office and go through the approval process. You can find the nearest American Job Center by entering your zip code. In some cases, the QuickStart Admissions Team will reach out to the workforce office in your area on your behalf.
After a 30-minute orientation at the American Job Center, you will be assigned to a case manager, who will determine your eligibility for funding. The approval process typically lasts two to four weeks.
“We’re in constant communication with learners until they’re approved and enrolled in the bootcamp,” says Jones.
Besides American Job Centers and QuickStart partner universities, eligible learners can apply for Military Spouse Programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Vocational Rehab, Veteran Programs, and TAA to get funding.
3. Start Your Tech Training!
Once the workforce center or another funding organization approves your application, you would send a voucher to the QuickStart Admissions Team and enroll in the workforce program of your choice. WIOA-Approved Programs include IT Bootcamp Programs and industry-recognized certifications in cooperation with training partners.
QuickStart offers IT Bootcamp programs in the most in-demand fields, such as Cybersecurity, Cloud Engineering, Al/Machine Learning, Data Science & Analytics, and, soon, Software Engineering. See our in-depth review of QuickStart’s IT Bootcamps here.
In addition, you can get certifications from the following training partners: Microsoft, Google Cloud, Cisco, CompTIA, EC-Council, Linux Foundation, and Oracle.
Once you are in the program, you will receive student support from the case manager at the American Job Center and QuickStart. You will also gain access to student and career services and an academic advisor who will monitor your progress and provide feedback. And if you have any questions that need addressing, you can meet with your instructor one-to-one during office hours.
According to QuickStart, graduates of their workforce government programs have successfully landed various tech jobs. They range from cybersecurity professionals to web developers, cloud computing engineers, project managers, help desk support, and other positions in in-demand tech fields.
Launch Your Tech Career with QuickStart Workforce Programs
The Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, or WIOA, is focused on establishing a more qualified national workforce by opening access to skills training so those in need can fill highly skilled jobs in their communities. The Act also allocates funding for employment-based training. QuickStart offers WIOA-approved tech training programs through American Job Centers and partner universities. And it doesn’t stop there. To give more learners the chance to break into tech, QuickStart aims to get approval to accept workforce government funding in every state. “We have 12 different states planned for in the first half of the year,” notes Miller. “Our goal is to be in every state.”
Want to know if you are eligible? Speak with a QuickStart admission advisor now and kickstart your tech career!
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
